When two unmarried persons get together, and talk upon such delicate

subjects as the present, a great deal of confidence and intimacy is

presently established between them. There is no need of giving a

special report of the conversation which now took place between Mr.

Sedley and the young lady; for the conversation, as may be judged from

the foregoing specimen, was not especially witty or eloquent; it seldom

is in private societies, or anywhere except in very high-flown and

ingenious novels. As there was music in the next room, the talk was

carried on, of course, in a low and becoming tone, though, for the

matter of that, the couple in the next apartment would not have been

disturbed had the talking been ever so loud, so occupied were they with

their own pursuits.

Almost for the first time in his life, Mr. Sedley found himself

talking, without the least timidity or hesitation, to a person of the

other sex. Miss Rebecca asked him a great number of questions about

India, which gave him an opportunity of narrating many interesting

anecdotes about that country and himself. He described the balls at

Government House, and the manner in which they kept themselves cool in

the hot weather, with punkahs, tatties, and other contrivances; and he

was very witty regarding the number of Scotchmen whom Lord Minto, the

Governor-General, patronised; and then he described a tiger-hunt; and

the manner in which the mahout of his elephant had been pulled off his

seat by one of the infuriated animals. How delighted Miss Rebecca was

at the Government balls, and how she laughed at the stories of the

Scotch aides-de-camp, and called Mr. Sedley a sad wicked satirical

creature; and how frightened she was at the story of the elephant! "For

your mother's sake, dear Mr. Sedley," she said, "for the sake of all

your friends, promise NEVER to go on one of those horrid expeditions."

"Pooh, pooh, Miss Sharp," said he, pulling up his shirt-collars; "the

danger makes the sport only the pleasanter." He had never been but once

at a tiger-hunt, when the accident in question occurred, and when he

was half killed--not by the tiger, but by the fright. And as he talked

on, he grew quite bold, and actually had the audacity to ask Miss

Rebecca for whom she was knitting the green silk purse? He was quite

surprised and delighted at his own graceful familiar manner.

"For any one who wants a purse," replied Miss Rebecca, looking at him

in the most gentle winning way. Sedley was going to make one of the

most eloquent speeches possible, and had begun--"O Miss Sharp, how--"

when some song which was performed in the other room came to an end,

and caused him to hear his own voice so distinctly that he stopped,

blushed, and blew his nose in great agitation.




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